Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Inspirational Leader
Tom Mongan, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and chair of its north Warwickshire branch, reflects on his time in office! It’s an honour for me to have served as Chair of the Chamber’s North Warwickshire Branch for the last 5 years, and as Chamber President for an unprecedented 3-year term. Coventry and Warwickshire is a region where I have lived and worked for most of my life – and what a region! In my opinion there is none better, for we have a rich industrial heritage, a unique history and a beautiful and varied landscape few can match. Coventry and Warwickshire, whichever way you look at it, go together like ‘Motor and Car’, like ‘Warwick and Castle’, like ‘Stratford and Shakespeare’ and like ‘Coal and Mine’. They are entwined and I am beyond proud to have been elected as President of this great Chamber of Commerce and to tirelessly represent and serve our innovative, entrepreneurial and exciting business community across my time in office.
What a journey it has been, one could never have imagined what was about to unfold when I took over the President’s role in December 2020. I think we can all agree that the last few years have been, putting it politely, challenging! However, starting out on this journey some 50 odd years ago as a Technical Apprentice at Alvis Ltd, I never dreamed I would one day become President of one of the UK’s leading Chambers of Commerce. Back then CNC machines weren’t even a thing, it was copy lathes, capstans and whole sections given over to grinding, milling and turning.
Nowadays, of course, they are used in everyday life, from surgery to cutting metal. It was an industry I worked in for nearly three decades as I was instrumental in making Subcon Laser in Nuneaton one of the UK’s most successful organisations that used laser technology, winning many regional and international awards along the way. It certainly has been quite a journey and, as I stated earlier, I could never have imagined what was about to unfold when I took over the role as President.
visited some world class companies and travelled extensively. Some say I’m lucky! I say I’ve worked hard for it! There have been highs and lows, all of which make up a lifetime of tales and stories. I am lucky, however, that I can call this region my home. I am lucky that wherever I go, I can come home to this wonderful region of Coventry & Warwickshire. A region rich in heritage, steeped in history, with a future as bright as LASERS!
I witnessed first-hand how manufacturing developed from manually operated systems and conventional machining, to computer-controlled processes, robotics and lasers!
It’s had everything; Brexit, COVID-19, Lockdowns, Furlough, Two Monarchs, Four Prime Ministers, Six Chancellors of the Exchequer, Energy Crises, Fuel Costs, Interest Rates, Cost of Living and not forgetting the Toilet Roll Shortage!
Finally, my thanks must go to all of my fellow Chamber Board members, the incredible team of people who work across the Chamber Group, but most importantly to each and every Chamber Member who support and engage with our work across the year.
Lasers were the stuff of Star Wars and James Bond movies, certainly that used to be most people’s perception.
I could go on forever and it has been an incredible journey with a lot of stories to tell. I’ve met some inspirational people,
I hope our paths will cross in the future – I’m not going far, just up the road to Nuneaton!
Finally my sincere thanks must go to all of the Chamber Board, our former Chief Executive Louise Bennett OBE DL, our current Chief Executive Corin Crane, all of the management and teams at the Chamber and of course, to all of the amazing Chamber Members who I’ve have the pleasure to meet. My best wishes to go incoming president, Steve Harcourt, who I know will do a great job!
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
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